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U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
Litigation Release No. 14982 / July 18, 1996
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION v. HUGO ALDO SALLUSTRO, ANNA
BARONI, AND FERRUCIO CAMPONOVO, U.S. District Court for the
Southern District of New York, 96 Civ.5351(LAK)(July 18, 1996)
On July 18, 1996, the Commission filed a complaint charging
Hugo Aldo Sallustro, Anna Baroni, and Ferrucio Camponovo with
insider trading in the common stock of Skybox International,
Inc., in violation of Sections 10(b) and 14(e) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 ("Exchange Act") and Rules 10b-5 and 14e-3
thereunder.
According to the Commission's Complaint, in February 1995,
an officer of Marvel Entertainment Group Inc. contacted
Sallustro, the Managing Director of Panini S.r.L., a Marvel
subsidiary that sells Marvel products in Europe, and discussed
with him whether Panini would be able to sell Skybox' products.
The Complaint alleges that Sallustro deduced from that
conversation that Marvel was evaluating a possible acquisition of
Skybox, a North Carolina-based trading card company. The
Complaint alleges that Sallustro misappropriated the information
concerning Skybox by purchasing 15,000 shares of Skybox through
an account at Banque Indosuez, and by tipping Anna Baroni, who
had a close personal relationship with Sallustro and advised
Panini with respect to tax matters. The Complaint further
alleges that Baroni purchased 23,000 shares of Skybox stock
through her account at Indosuez. According to the Complaint,
Baroni also tipped Camponovo, who acted as her and Sallustro's
banking advisor at Indosuez. Camponovo thereafter purchased
1,500 shares of Skybox through an account he controlled at
Indosuez. The Complaint alleges that Marvel and Skybox announced
the tender offer for Skybox shares on March 9, 1995, and that
Sallustro, Baroni, and Camponovo later tendered their shares and
realized profits of $52,500, $94,031, and $6,187, respectively.
Sallustro, Baroni, and Camponovo, without admitting or
denying the allegations of the Complaint, each have consented to
the entry of a Final Judgment enjoining them from future
violations of Sections 10(b) and 14(e) of the Exchange Act and
Rules 10b-5 and 14e-3 thereunder, and requiring them to disgorge
their illegal trading profits which, together with prejudgment
interest, totals $57,059, $102,197, and $6,724, respectively.
The Judgment also orders Sallustro, Baroni, and Camponovo to pay
civil penalties of $52,500, $47,015, and $3,093, respectively.
The Commission acknowledges the assistance of the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. in this matter.
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The investigation is continuing with respect to other
trading in Skybox securities.